The First World Sphere

Chapter 51: Misguided Guile

Chapter 51: Misguided Guile

The ship landed in the upper city, giving us an easier walking route to the Colosseum. The streets were packed, and excitement was in the air. It was clear to me the Triumvirate was using the Annuals to help the people forget about the recent Sadaian attacks. Many people were talking about the Annuals the next day for the post-academy group, the elite fighters. There were 16 participants left, as they had started with 64. Tickets to see those finals were 50 silver. I already heard Gareth trying to convince Callem to stay another day so he could watch those matches.

We were given a different room by Callem’s friend this time, and he winked as he left us. I had been smart and brought a satchel this time. That way, I could reach in and withdraw items from my dimensional closet. I ignored the appetizing food on the tables and retrieved some mixed nuts and a skin full of red juice. I took a sip and passed the skin to Gareth, who drained it. He shrugged when he handed it back to me. I had a water skin in my space and one cask of red juice. I would have to fill my juice skin at another time.

“Stormy, let’s bet who wins their match quicker. Let’s say two gold,” Gareth suggested.

“Sure, Gareth, I bet two gold that you finish first,” I said smugly. His frown made me realize he got my twist. It was probably the fourth or fifth time I tried to pull the same trick. It only worked the first time.

“Never mind,” Gareth mumbled.

Callem finally arrived with his fighter intel. He had a spring in his set and came to me first, “Storme, you have an interesting opponent. He wields a bastard sword and goes from one to two-handed style freely. He has solid skills but lacks speed. You can just keep your distance and whittle away at him. He should be similar to fighting Gareth but not as fast.” I was already trying to think of a good way to lose. I didn’t want to get injured too badly, so I would engage him and get a read on him first.

Callem was finishing up with Gareth, who looked excited. I pulled out the water skin and drank. I laid down on the couch, put my staff next to me, and rubbed my hand along the smooth black wood. I think I fell asleep as Callem shook me awake. “Storme, Gareth just left. You should stretch and center yourself.” Callem then also left to watch Gareth fight. My mental exercises had progressed, and I assumed the clarity I had gotten from them had contributed to my jump in skill with the staff. We hadn’t progressed to focusing through pain yet, but I knew that was just around the corner. Callem had been busy preparing the barracks for the academy, so my training in this aspect had faltered.

A light knock on my door a short time later surprised me. It was too quick from Callem’s departure for my own call to fight. I cautiously went and opened the door. A small female Wolfguard stood on the other side. She had a brilliant white fur coat. “Master Storme Hardlight. I have a message requiring a reply.” Her voice was very soft and silky for having a slight muzzle. I was shocked by her appearance, but she was patiently waiting for me.

Finally, I said, “Yes, you can relay your message.” The Wolfguard had the mark of the Miaden family on her tight-fitting and expensive-looking outfit. The Miaden’s were responsible for commerce in Skyholme, but Callem had lectured us that they were pretty much under the thumb of the Bricios.

“My mistress wishes for you to lose your match. She will pay you ten platinum to do so,” The young Wolfguard stated. This offer might be tempting if I hadn’t had access to unlimited wealth. But then again, I was planning to lose anyway. I played the thought in my mind before replying.

“My counter-offer is the ten platinum and a small favor. The favor will not be anything grand. Just help in buying some property in a city,” I stated. The Wolfguard looked uncomfortable. She probably wasn’t able to negotiate. “You should hurry back and get an answer. I expect to be called shortly.” She turned and sped away.

She returned ten minutes later with a small bag and handed it to me, “It is agreed.” She turned to leave, and I dropped the new coin into my dimensional space.

“Who is your mistress?” I asked curiously.

“Loriel Handram Miaden,” the Wolfguard bowed and rushed away. Handram Miaden was the son of the current ruling member of the Triumvirate. So I guessed this must be his daughter. I wished I had paid slightly more attention to the genealogy charts of the Triumvirate. Since Loriel had a Wolfguard, it either meant she was one of the 23 in the line of succession or her grandfather on the council really favored her.

Each family only had 200 personal Wolfguard to command. Most patrolled their residence, according to Callem, and the remainder served as companions for important family members. Typically the sitting member of the Triumvirate had twenty-three personnel guards that he was allowed to bring into the council. I remembered that last bit because I noted if I ever saw anyone walking with twenty-three Wolfguard around him, I was to make haste in the other direction.

Gareth returned a few moments later and looked tired but wore a cheeky grin. “Storme, you are up after the next match! I won handily and can’t wait for you to join me in the final four! Can you...” He indicated my satchel, and I pulled out a roast beef sandwich on cheese bread with spicy mayo. Not Gareth’s preferred sandwich, but it was mine. He didn’t care and consumed it in short order.

He regaled me with the tale of his most recent victory while I stretched and limbered up. I guessed his match was not as close as he was making it sound but dominating your opponent doesn’t make for a good tale. With a sharp knock and an announcement, I was to make my way to the arena floor.

I clasped arms with Gareth and headed out with my preferred staff. My opponent looked old, maybe 20 from my old world. He had decided to drop the soft leather armor most participants used in favor of some stiffer leather. This would be more effective against my blunt weapon, but it didn’t really matter. I tuned out the announcer as he drolled on, and the two of us faced off. I just studied the man opposite me.

He seemed slightly nervous, and his eyes said he was apprehensive about engaging. When the announcer finished, the man was already in a defensive stance with one hand on his bastard sword. It was massive and heavy. I was surprised he could wield it one-handed. He had two hands on it right now, giving him a pivot point to leverage the blade quicker.

I went after him with a sequence and watched him block aptly. When he didn’t press after the exchange, the crowd booed him. I needed him to attack, so I increased my tempo and chained some attacks together, he defended well, and I only got two glancing blows. But something was wrong. I paused. Could he have been paid to lose as well? That seemed ridiculous.

But his lack of an offense or any probing attempts made me more and more certain. I had to get bribed because my opponent had been bribed as well. My following sequence targeted his blade. If he wasn’t going to fight me, then I would make it appear he was, directly slamming my staff into his blade.

At least the crowd loved it. I was sure any staff masters or blade masters in the stands would see through my farce of attacks, but it was all I could do. I had committed to losing this match but wanted it to appear like I had tried extremely hard.

Mentally I relaxed. I was afraid she was going to ask me for something else. A devilish smile overcame her, “In return for this favor, I want one of the rooms to always be reserved for me in perpetuity. If I perish, you can rent the room to someone else. But until that day, I will always be welcome to stay at your inn.” She seemed to be plotting something in her head that suddenly made me wary. “My companion here will stay with you, and you can send her to me when you find the property you wish to purchase.” The Wolfguard’s face looked shocked, but she hid it quickly.

Loriel finished the conversation by stating, “No contract is necessary. My word is good.” I thought to voice an objection but held my tongue.

Kicking myself for my curiosity, I asked anyway, “What was the bet I helped you win?”

An amused Loriel grinned, “It was for letting Abaddon escort me to the Triumvirate ball. He has been trying to maneuver himself to get me into a marriage. You may know him. He has assaulted various navy cadets, including your friend Cilia.” My heart increased its pace from anger. Don’t get involved in politics, Storme, was ringing in my head repeatedly.

While I was still calculating my next actions’ effect, she leaned in, gave me a peck on my cheek, and left. Another Wolfguard in the corridor fell in behind her. This one was an old and grizzled brut. I looked at the small white one left behind and gave a half smile.

I wasn’t skilled in reading the facial expressions of the Wolfguard, but the young woman just shook her head. Her soft, somewhat melodic voice filled the room, “I thought you had been smart. Do you realize why Loriel left me to shadow you and carry a message to her? Everyone knows I am attached to Loriel. Now by seeing me with you, they will think you are now attached to her. She has casually drawn you in. You will be nothing but a temporary shield against Abaddon for her.”

A cold chill went down my spine. “Why are you telling me this? Isn’t this a betrayal of your mistress?” I asked, looking over at the young wolf woman.

“I am not a Wolfguard, you idiot. Do I look like a Wolfguard with large muscles and weapons hidden all over my body? I am just Loriel’s playmate. We grew up together, and I have been waiting on her ever since,” she said with no malice. “I would never harm her, but I also hate how she manipulates the common people to her own ends.” She seemed finished with her mini-rant.

“So don’t follow me then.” I pulled out my prize money from the pre-Annuals and handed it to her. “Go and stay in Aegis city. I should be there tomorrow with my teacher Callem.” The white wolf woman seemed to think and then nodded. “I will be in the Lyrical Nymph, it is a tavern near the primary docks in the city.

“What is your name?” I asked as she was leaving.

“Bylura,” she said with some surprise that I had asked her name. “It means white storm in wolfkin speech,” she added with a smirk. Then she was gone.

I didn’t have to wait long before Callem arrived, “Storme, I was detained at the end of the corridor. Is there anything wrong? Is that why you threw the match?” concern laced his voice. He was looking me over for injuries, but they had been long since healed.

“I am fine. And yes, I was paid to throw the match, as was my opponent. I foolishly let myself get trapped in the web of politics,” I said morosely. Callem listened intently as I told him what had happened and finally responded.

“You did well sending the wolfkin away. Being seen with her would probably draw eyes to you. The Miaden family holds so little power these days as most of their upper-tier members have been tied to the Bricios by marriage. Loriel and Abddon is just another chain.” Callem sat and looked thoughtful.

He finally looked at me, “You did the right thing taking the coin. A boy like you turning down ten platinum may have drawn more attention than was warranted. As for your plans to build a restaurant and sponsor an adventuring team in Aegis...the death toll from the attack was heavy there. I inquired today in the stands from some friends, and there are some decent opportunities. I assume you plan to spend your following years of academy there instead of the capital?” He asked with knowing eyes.

Callem was insightful. I nodded, “Yes. I don’t want to go near the capital, even if they have better academies. So I was considering the Aegis Adventuring Academy or the Enchanter’s Academy. I really wanted to attend the Mage Academy in the capital, but that seems too dangerous. The Aegis Adeventuring Academy has an inferior mage program but good enough for me,” I finished revealing my plans going forward. Callem nodded in what I hoped was approval.

“Very good, Storme. We can leave tomorrow for Aegis or go directly after the tournament,” Callem said, asking my preference.

“Tomorrow. It is better to wait a day, plus I want to celebrate Gareth’s victory with him.” We both grinned.

“Well, let’s go and watch young Gareth take the capital by Storme,” Callem assented.

“Hopefully, his head doesn’t get too large,” I mumbled. Callem slapped me hard on the back.

“I am sure, as his friend, you won’t let that happen,” Callem said, and we laughed as we headed to the stands.